25Nov06

Gun Sales:

A large gun retailer in our area tells me that he has seen a significant an d sustained spike in the sale of pistols, military rifles, magazines, police shotguns, and ammunition in the wake of this month's mid-term electi ons. Some buyers are existing gun owners, but many report they are buying guns for th e first time, "while we still can!" It seems Democratic elect ion victories make a lot of people nervous about the continued legality of the private ownership of guns in this Country!

One hot seller is the Springfield Armory XD in 45ACP. There is no doubting

that Americans like forty-five caliber pistols, and the XD is a high-capaci ty gun, much slimmer than the G21, that works just fine and is reasonably priced. Of course, SA has been advertising the product heavily, and I'm su re that has contributed to brisk sales also.

This, of course, all comes as good news to the gun industry, at least temporarily. However, the Industry, along with the NRA, is, even now, plan ning on spending heavily in an effort to stifle a host of new, burdensome anti-gun,

anti-gun-owner, and anti-gun-retailer laws and harassing bureaucratic regulation that is now bound to emanate from Democratic party leadership. Individual Democratic legislators, even when personally opposed, will be hard pressed to resist pressure from the DNC on this issue. Indeed, many Republican legislators will predictably climb on an anti-gun bandwagon too, when they detect political winds blowing in that direction.

The good news is that most Americans are not nearly as gullible as they use d to be! We still remember post-Katrina events in New Orleans and surroundin g area. In fact, on that very theme, local politicians are now telling (with

a straight face) metro-area residents they will be on their own after the next disaster, perhaps for weeks, even months. Interesting that Americans are admonished to have a personal supply of food, water, first-aid supplies, communications gear, fuel, transportation, etc... everything one might expe ct, except guns and ammunition! Those last two items are never mentioned on an y list. Such an omission is illogical, inconceivable, inexcusable, and, sadl y, predicable, when it comes from the mouths of typical, paranoid gasbags who are far more worried about themselves than they will ever be about the welfare of citizens.

We are told to expect neither protection nor assistance from the government

at any level, yet in the same breath we are told we needn't take any measure s to protect ourselves. This glaring contradiction is, of course, deliberate ly ignored by the media. Indeed, it is on the media's "unment ionable" list. Armed citizens obviously make them nervous too!.

As always, the sage are alert, aware, and prepared. Naive flower-children never will be!

/John

25Nov06

Successful Disengagement, from a friend and instructor in LA:

Today, after dropping off my daughter at a party in Wilshire, I stopped for

gas. As always, before exiting my car, I looked around. Seeing nothing, I popped out and, after fumbling with my credit card, began pumping.

In the few moments it took for me to activate the pump, seemingly out of nowhere, two women approached the front of my car. I knew I was going to be

asked for money, so I looked at them and started shaking my head negatively, while making eye contact, which aborts most such approaches. Not this time !

The lead was an slovenly Asian women, long, tattered overcoat, hands in pockets. The other, a younger, white women in a tight, tank top, dyed jet- black hair, bright lipstick. She was clearly dressed to garner attention.

They came closer, but the fuel hose was between us. The Asian women immediately asked for money. I said 'no,' politely but firm ly. She then moved closer and started asking me about my Thanksgiving. Quick look behind me s howed no one there. I politely answered my Holiday was fine and that 'I hope yours was too.' She began mumbling incoherently as her hands came out of her pockets. I finally took my hand off the gas nozzle and assumed an aggressi ve interview stance, again looking behind me. I loudly announced what I shoul d have to begin with, 'I'm sorry. I can't help you.'

The white women immediately took note and said to the Asian women, =80 Come on. Let's go=80=99 and began moving away. The Asian women stopped t alking mid-sentence and looked at me. She finally said, 'Well, you don't h ave to be so angry at the world,' but she said that as she nervously backed away, shortly to join her friend. I never replied.

I turned to look behind me once more, finished pumping, replaced the nozzle , and left.

Just another day in LA, but their reaction to my assumption of the intervie w stance was stark and determinative. It is clear to me they believed I had a pistol under my coat. It surely worked this time.

Now if I could only get a carry permit, but around here, that's just ' California dreamin'!=80=99"

Comment: These two predators were clever enough to wait until my friend glanced down at his credit card. He was probably selected because he is we ll dressed, drives a nice car, and was momentarily distracted. However, at th e first sign of active, competent resistance, and the subtitle hint of deadly

force lurking just under the surface, the two predators precipitously lost interest and voluntarily disengaged. My friend had a plan and was fully pr epared to escalate as necessary. It may have saved him a great deal of heartburn,

maybe a great deal of harm!

/John